Project description:Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are very useful tools for gene regulation at different levels, but in particular in the last years their use for targeting microRNA (anti-miR PNAs) has provided impressive advancements. In this respect, microRNAs related to the repression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which is defective in cystic fibrosis, are of great importance in the development of new type of treatments. In this paper we propose the use of an anti-miR PNA for targeting miR-145, a microRNA reported to suppress CFTR expression. Octaarginine-anti-miR PNA conjugates were delivered to Calu-3 cells, exerting sequence dependent targeting of miR-145-5p. This allowed to enhance expression of the miR-145 regulated CFTR gene, analyzed at mRNA (RT-qPCR, Reverse Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) and CFTR protein (Western blotting) level.
Project description:Patients with lung adenocarcinoma may benefit from recently developed molecular targeted therapies. However, analogous advanced treatments are not available for patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (lung SCC). The survival rate of patients with the advanced stage of lung SCC remains poor. Exploration of novel lung SCC oncogenic pathways might lead to new treatment protocols for the disease. Based on this concept, we have identified microRNA- (miRNA) mediated oncogenic pathways in lung SCC. It is well known that miR-145-5p (the guide strand) functions as a tumor suppressor in several types of cancer. However, the impact of miR-145-3p (the passenger strand) on cancer cells is still ambiguous. Expression levels of miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p were markedly reduced in cancer tissues, and ectopic expression of these miRNAs inhibited cancer cell aggressiveness, suggesting that both miR-145-3p as well as miR-145-5p acted as antitumor miRNAs. We identified seven putative target genes (MTDH, EPN3, TPD52, CYP27B1, LMAN1, STAT1 and TXNDC12) that were coordinately regulated by miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p in lung SCC. Among the seven genes, we found that metadherin (MTDH) was a direct target of these miRNAs. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that high expression of MTDH predicted reduced survival of lung SCC patients. We investigated pathways downstream from MTDH by using genome-wide gene expression analysis. Our data showed that several anti-apoptosis and pro-proliferation genes were involved in pathways downstream from MTDH in lung SCC. Taken together, both strands of miR-145, miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p are functional and play pivotal roles as antitumor miRNAs in lung SCC.
Project description:In microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, the guide-strand of miRNA integrates into the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC), whereas the passenger-strand is inactivated through degradation. Analysis of our miRNA expression signature of bladder cancer (BC) by deep-sequencing revealed that microRNA (miR)-145-5p (guide-strand) and miR-145-3p (passenger-strand) were significantly downregulated in BC tissues. It is well known that miR-145-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in several types of cancer. However, the impact of miR-145-3p on cancer cells is still ambiguous. The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional significance of miR-145-3p and BC oncogenic pathways and targets regulated by miR-145-5p/miR-145-3p. Ectopic expression of either miR-145-5p or miR-145-3p in BC cells significantly suppressed cancer cell growth, migration and invasion and it also induced apoptosis. The gene encoding ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1) was a direct target of these miRNAs. Silencing of UHRF1 induced apoptosis and inhibited cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in BC cells. In addition, overexpressed UHRF1 was confirmed in BC clinical specimens, and the high UHRF1 expression group showed a significantly poorer cause specific survival rate in comparison with the low expression group. Taken together, our present data demonstrated that both strands of miR-145 (miR-145-5p: guide-strand and miR-145-3p: passenger-strand) play pivotal roles in BC cells by regulating UHRF1. The identification of the molecular target of a tumor suppressive miRNAs provides novel insights into the potential mechanisms of BC oncogenesis and suggests novel therapeutic strategies.
Project description:Assessing the quality of tissue engineered (TE) cartilage has historically been performed by endpoint measurements including marker gene expression. Until the adoption of promoter-driven reporter constructs capable of quantitative and real time non-destructive expression analysis, temporal gene expression assessments along a timeline could not be performed on TE constructs. We further exploit this technique to utilize microRNA (miRNA or miR) through the use of firefly luciferase reporter (Luc) containing a 3' UTR perfect complementary target sequence to the mature miR-145-5p. We report the development and testing of a firefly luciferase (Luc) reporter responsive to miR-145-5p for longitudinal tracking of miR-145-5p expression throughout MSC chondrogenic differentiation. Plasmid reporter vectors containing a miR-145-5p responsive reporter (Luc reporter with a perfect complementary target sequence to the mature miR-145-5p sequence in the 3'UTR), a Luc reporter driven by a truncated Sox9 (one of the targets of miR-145-5p) promoter, or the Luc backbone (control) vector without a specific miRNA target were transfected into MSCs by electroporation. Transfected MSCs were mixed with untransfected MSC to generate chondrogenic pellets. Pellets were imaged by bioluminescent imaging (BLI) and harvested along a preset time line. The imaging signals from miR-145-5p responsive reporter and Sox9 promoter-driven reporter showed correlated time-courses (measured by BLI and normalized to Luc-control reporter; Spearman r=0.93, p=0.0002) during MSC chondrogenic differentiation. Expression analysis by qRT-PCR suggests an inverse relationship between miR-145-5p and Sox9 gene expression during MSC chondrogenic differentiation. Non-destructive cell-pellet imaging is capable of supplementing histological analyses to characterize TE cartilage. The miR-145-5p responsive reporter is relatively simple to construct and generates a consistent imaging signal responsive to miR-145-5p during MSC chondrogenesis in parallel to certain molecular and cellular events.
Project description:Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for mature hepatocytes, and has been shown to prevent cirrhosis during liver regeneration. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reduces the development of cirrhosis after liver injury. However, the production and secretion of transplanted MSCs in liver were not studied yet. Here we found that the MSCs expressed low levels of HGF protein, but surprisingly high levels of HGF mRNA. Further investigation using bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assay showed that MSCs expressed high levels of microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p), which targeted 3'-UTR of HGF mRNA to inhibit its protein translation. In vivo, miR-26a-5p-depleted MSCs were transplanted into mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis. We found that suppression of miR-26a-5p in MSCs further ameliorated the severity of liver fibrosis, reduced the portal hypertension and sodium retention, compared to transplantation of control MSCs. Hence, our study suggests that suppression of miR-26a-5p in MSCs may improve their therapeutic effects against cirrhosis through increasing HGF production.
Project description:Background. Accumulating evidence indicates that CFTR modulators can be effective for CF sufferers. However, in vivo the microRNAs that regulate CFTR are increased in the CF lung milieu and this can nullify the beneficial effects of CFTR modulators. Methods. A panel of target site blockers (TSBs) designed against the CFTR 3’untranslated region (UTR) were tested for their ability to increase CFTR expression by CFTR 3’UTR luciferase assay and western blot. The effect of two lead TSBs on CFTR activity were tested alone or in combination with selected CFTR modulators in four separate p.Phe508del/p.Phe508del in vitro and ex vivo models (CFBE41o-, Cufi-1, primary bronchial epithelial cells, iPSC-derived lung organoids). Respirable poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating the TSBs were formulated and tested. Findings. TSBs that target the miR-145-5p or miR-223-3p binding sites at positons 298-305 and 166-173 in the CFTR 3’UTR, respectively, increased CFTR expression and CFTR anion channel activity, and enhance the effects of Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor or Lumacftor/Tezacaftor in CF BECs. PLGAs encapsulating the TSBs promote CFTR expression in primary BECs and retain their biophysical characteristics following nebulization. Interpretation. Alone or in combination with CFTR modulators, CFTR-targeting TSBs encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles and nebulized to the lung could overcome microRNA-mediated inhibition of CFTR in CF bronchial epithelium. This strategy represents a promising drug-device combination therapy for the treatment for CFTR dysfunction in the lung.
Project description:The long intergenic non-coding RNA linc01133 is reported to be oncogenic in various malignancies. However, the role and mechanism of linc01133 in regulating gastric cancer growth is still not clear. In the present study, we found that linc01133 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to non-tumorous gastric tissues. Linc01133 over-expression significantly correlated with tumor size and tumor differentiation in gastric cancer patients. The expression of linc01133 was regulated by c-Jun and c-Fos collaboratively. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, linc01133 was shown to promote gastric cancer cell growth. Linc01133 localized in the cytoplasm and functioned as an endogenous competing RNA of miR-145-5p to upregulate the expression of YES1, which was proved to be the target gene of miR-145-5p. By promoting YES1-dependent YAP1 nuclear translocation, linc01133 upregulated the expression of the key cell cycle regulators CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin D1 to promote G1-S phase transition. Thus, our study unveiled the function and mechanism of linc01133 regulating cell cycle progression in gastric cancer.
Project description:Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have been demonstrated to be very useful tools for gene regulation at different levels and with different mechanisms of action. In the last few years the use of PNAs for targeting microRNAs (anti-miRNA PNAs) has provided impressive advancements. In particular, targeting of microRNAs involved in the repression of the expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which is defective in cystic fibrosis (CF), is a key step in the development of new types of treatment protocols. In addition to the anti-miRNA therapeutic strategy, inhibition of miRNA functions can be reached by masking the miRNA binding sites present within the 3'UTR region of the target mRNAs. The objective of this study was to design a PNA masking the binding site of the microRNA miR-145-5p present within the 3'UTR of the CFTR mRNA and to determine its activity in inhibiting miR-145-5p function, with particular focus on the expression of both CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein in Calu-3 cells. The results obtained support the concept that the PNA masking the miR-145-5p binding site of the CFTR mRNA is able to interfere with miR-145-5p biological functions, leading to both an increase of CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein content.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Growing evidences indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of biological behavior of tumor. We aim to explore the role of circRNA in glioma and elucidate how circRNA acts. METHODS:Real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of circPTN in glioma tissues and normal brain tissues (NBT). Assays of dual- luciferase reporter system, biotin label RNA pull-down and FISH were used to determine that circPTN could sponge miR-145-5p and miR-330-5p. Tumor sphere formation assay was performed to determine self- renewal of glioma stem cell (GSCs). Cell counting Kit-8 (CCK8), EdU assay and flow cytometry were used to investigate proliferation and cell cycle. Intracranial xenograft was established to determine how circPTN impacts in vivo. Tumor sphere formation assay was performed to determine self- renewal of glioma stem cell (GSCs). RESULTS:We demonstrated circPTN was significantly higher expression in glioma tissues and glioma cell lines, compared with NBT and HEB (human astrocyte). In gain- and loss-of-function experiments, circPTN significantly promoted glioma growth in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we performed dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA pull-down assays to verify that circPTN acts through sponging miR-145-5p and miR-330-5p. Increasing expression of circPTN rescued the inhibition of proliferation and downregulation of SOX9/ITGA5 in glioma cells by miR-145-5p/miR-330-5p. In addition, we found that circPTN promoted self-renewal and increased the expression of stemness markers (Nestin, CD133, SOX9, and SOX2) via sponging miR-145-5p. Moreover, this regulation was disappeared when circPTN binding sites in miR-145-5p were mutated. CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggest that circPTN is an oncogenic factor that acts by sponging miR-145-5p/miR-330-5p in glioma.